Vertically adjustable table



Dec. 6, 1955 N. c. POEL 2,726,126

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE TABLE Filed Jan. 24, 1952 I5 Sheets-Sheet l gAn: =1 If 15 i l' INVENTOR .Nbrman C. .Poel

ATTORNEY Dec. 6, 1955 c, PQEL 2,726,126

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE TABLE Filed Jan. 24, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 n ur- 17 ['15 18 INVENTOR Norman C. P081 ATTORNEY Dec. 6. 1955 N. c. POEL VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 24, 1952 a mw 3 3 m E ON NN. V. QMMNWN w W $N" .Q i 3 W\\\\ NH INVENTOR Mrman C. Poel ATTORNEY United States Patent VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE TABLE Norman C. Pool, Grand Rapids,Mic h.,.assignor to American Seating Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of New Jersey The present invention relates to tables and more particularly to tables primarily made for use in classrooms.

Classrooms tables are conventionally made in different heights to accommodate pupils of different sizes in the several grades, each room being. provided; with tablesand also chairsof specified size appropriate for the school grade for which the room is, intended. I

Studies have shown that in any grade school the proportions of small, medium, and large pupils in the student body changes from time to time. For example, several years after a peak in the community birth rate the proportion of small pupils in the lower grades reaches a peak, but as these pupils progress and grow the same peak in the birth rate evidences itself in a greater proportion of larger pupils in the higher grades.

The primary objects of this invention are, therefore, to provide a classroom table which is vertically adjustable so that as the proportions of the several grades in a school vary the tables may be correspondingly vertically adjusted; to provide such a table in which the adjustment means are simple in construction, easily operated, and concealed from view in the normal use of the table; and to provide such a table which is reasonably economical in manufacture and attractive in appearance.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the new table indicating the tables three positions of adjustment in solid lines, dotted lines and broken lines respectively;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the table;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of one end of the table, taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2; and

Figures 6 and 7 are sectional views similar to Figure 5 but illustrating the table in different selected positions of vertical adjustment.

Referring now in detail to these drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals in the several views, the table there shown generally comprises a pair of spaced tubular supporting columns 10 which are supported inupright position by feet assemblies 11, a table top 12, and mounting brackets 13 by means of which the top is vertically adjustably mounted on the supporting columns 10.

Each mounting bracket 13 is fabricated from a single metal sheet and comprises a medial portion 14 which is fitted to the outside of the upper end of the adjacent column, a pair of inwardly extending upper arms 15 and a pair of inwardly extending lower arms 16. The upper arms 15 are inwardly divergent and each upper arm has a horizontal flange 17 provided with apertures therethrough, through which apertures are passed woodscrews 18 for securing the bracket to the table top 12 (see Figures 3 and 4).

, 2,726,126 A. Patented Dec; 6, 19 55 ce j I The lower arms 16 of each mounting bracket 13 extend inwardly from the medial portion- 14 of the bracket'and around the tubular column 10 on opposite sides thereof. The inner ends of these arms '16 are brought into juxtaposition adjacent the inner wall of the column and are turned inwardly to provide parallel flanges 19 having aligned apertures therethrough. A bolt 20 islpassed through these aligned apertures in the juxtaposed inner ends of the arms 16 and is provided with; a nut 21 threaded thereon. It will beseen that when the nut 21 is tightened on the bolt the inner ends of the lower arms 16 are drawn together to securely clamp themounting bracket to the adjacent column 10 in vertically adjusted position thereon. Each bracket 13 may thus be clamped to its supporting column 10 at any selected height on the column, and a yardstick or other measuring device may be used to insure that the opposite ends of the table top are at exactly the same height before finally tightening the clamping means above described.

The; usual heights for classroom tables are 21 inches, 23 inches, and 25 inches, and the present invention includes means whereby the table topvmay be adjusted to any of these three heights without the use of-any measuring device and by one personfor example, a school janitor-working alone. r The table of 21-inch height, exemplified in Figure 5 and in the solid line showing of Figure 1, is produced by permitting the brackets 13 to slide as far as possible down the column 10 so that the top 12 actually rests on top of the columns, and then tightening the clamping means to secure the parts in rigid assembly.

In order to effect the 23-inch and 25-inch adjustments of the table without the use of a measuring device, there is provided a latch 22 pivotally mounted on each of the bolts 20 and between the flanges 19 of the lower arms 16 of the adjacent bracket 13. Each latch 22 has a lower detent 23 and an upper detent 24 thereon, which detents are adapted to engage the upper end of the adjacent column 10.

With the clamping means disengaged, i. e. with the nuts 21 loosened on the bolts 20, the table of 23-inch height exemplified in Figure 6 and in the dotted line indication of Figure l is produced by lifting the table top 12 and with it the brackets 15, until the upper detents 24 of the latches 22 fall into engagement with the tops of their adjacent columns 10. The top 12 s thus supported, though not securely, at the desired level, and the clamping means are thereafter tightened to secure the parts in rigid assembly. The table of 25-inch height exemplified in Figure 7 and in the broken line indication of Figure 1 is produced in similar manner by loosening the clamping means, raising the top until the lower detents 23 engage the tops of columns 10 and thereafter tightening the clamping means.

It will be seen that the latches 22 are so balanced that they tend to fall outwardly toward their positions of engagement. Therefore when the table is adjusted to a lower elevation these latches are swung inwardly so that their detents do not interfere with the lowering movement of the top.

It will of course be readily understood that if desired, more detents may be provided on the latches 22 in order to provide more predetermined positions of selective adjustment of the top, and that if desired, the top may be clamped in any intermediate position independently of the latches.

Although primarily designed for use in classrooms, the table herein shown and described is adaptable to many other uses, and while but one specific embodiment of the invention has been herein disclosed, it will be understood that numerous details may be altered or 3 omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as the same is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A vertically adjustable table comprising: spaced upright supporting columns, a table top, mounting brackets for mounting the table top on said supporting columns, each bracket comprising a medial portion fitted to the outside of the upper end of the adjacent column and vertically slidable thereon, and each bracket having upper arms extending inwardly from said medial portion and secured to the underside of the table top, and each bracket also having lower arms extending inwardly from said medial portions around the column and into juxtaposition, a bolt passing through aligned apertures in the juxtaposed inner ends of said lower arms and a nut threaded on the bolt for drawing said inner ends together to securely clamp each mounting bracket to its supporting column in vertically adjusted position, and a latch pivotally mounted on each bolt engageable with the upper end of the adjacent supporting column whereby the mounting brackets may be supported temporarily at the same predetermined elevation prior to the clamping of the lower arms of said brackets to the supporting columns.

2. A vertically adjustable table comprising: spaced upright supporting columns, a table top, mounting brackets for mounting the table top on said supporting columns, each bracket comprising a medial portion fitted to the outside of the upper end of the adjacent column and vertically slidable thereon, and each bracket having upper arms extending inwardly from said medial portion and secured to the underside of the table top, and

each bracket also having lower arms extending inwardly from said medial portions around the column and into juxtaposition, a bolt passing through aligned apertures in the juxtaposed inner ends of said lower arms and a nut threaded on the bolt for drawing said inner ends together to securely clamp each mounting bracket to its supporting column in vertically adjusted position, and a latch pivotally mounted on each bolt and provided with a plurality of detents each adapted to engage the top of the adjacent column in one selected elevation of its bracket whereby the mounting brackets may be supported temporarily at the same selected elevation prior to the clamping of the lower arms of said brackets to the supporting columns.

3. A vertically adjustable table according to claim 2 characterized by having the latches so balanced on their respective bolts that they tend to fall outwardly into engagement with the upper ends of their respective columns.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,189,949 Holmes. July 4, 1916 1,301,617 StOll et a1. Apr. 22, 1919 1,386,739 StOll et a1. Aug. 9, 1921 1,493,891 Moore May 13, 1924 1,564,358 Klein Dec. 8, 1925 1,875,635 Merrill Sept. 6, 1932 2,163,049 Merrill Jan. 20, 1939 2,499,668 Morgan et al. Mar. 7, 1950 2,547,296 White Apr. 3, 1951 

